THIS is the rogue rag and bone man who blighted a beauty spot. John Beaty took cash to collect waste from families in Gateshead, then went to Newcastle’s Walker Riverside Country Park, where he dumped it.

The 44-year-old’s white van was spotted by council environmental inspectors, who linked him to the piles of garbage, including children’s toys, rotting food and soiled nappies.

Beaty, of Janet Street, Byker, in Newcastle’s East End, was arrested and admitted he had been on Belmont Street, Walker, where the mounds were found, but initially denied having left the rubbish.

He claimed he was looking for scrap to sell for profit but now the father-of-five has been convicted of the offence at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court.

Beaty was ordered to do 160 hours community service, narrowly avoiding jail after the court heard he was already subject to a suspended prison sentence.

Melanie Bulman, prosecuting, read a statement prepared by Newcastle City Council’s environmental crime and pollution control team manager Roy Harris.

It said: “At approximately 11.45am on February 24, two council environmental operatives were on Felling View, Walker, when they saw a white LDV pick-up on to the footpath at the bottom of Belmont Street.

“Belmont Street leads into the Walker Riverside Country Park and to the River Tyne. It is a no-through road and is repeatedly targeted by fly-tippers.

“John Beaty was stood at the rear of the tipper van tending to the tail gate. Immediately behind the tipper was a large pile of dumped waste.

“As the operatives approached, Beaty finished what he was doing, got back into the cab of the van and drove off up Belmont Street.

“The waste tipped by Beaty included bags of household waste, children’s toys, cardboard boxes a bag of kitchen waste, old food and used nappies.

“During questioning, he confirmed that he was on Belmont Street but denied dumping waste. He said he was looking for scrap, but then conceded that he had fly-tipped the waste.”

Beaty also admitted that he was not registered to carry waste, but said he collects scrap every day across Tyne and Wear.

Until recently the price for scrap steel was more than £100 per tonne and copper last year was well over £4,000 per tonne. The cost of registration as a waste carrier has been avoided and is £149.

Beaty pleaded guilty to not having a waste disposal licence and depositing controlled waste.

Kevin Kivlehan, defending, said: “What we are dealing with is a 44-year-old man, who is main carer for his five children and his wife. He tries to improve the income he gets from benefits and tries to make a few bob to keep the family together.”

Mr Kivlehan added Beaty has now successfully applied for a waste transfer licence and intends to make a living from that. Because of his current means, he was not fined.

The court heard last year he was convicted of theft in February and fined £75, then again in May and June when he got conditional discharges. In July he received a nine-week jail term, suspended for 12 months, for another theft. Beaty was also told his suspended sentence will be extended until January.